The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium Graduates on the Excursion in Rome

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Pope Francis blessing DCG graduates with other pilgrims on Palm Sundayon in St. Peter’s Square

As customary the graduates spend the week before Palm Sunday in Rome discovering the beauties of the eternal city. Especially from the perspective of Ancient Rome – its hisotry, arts, life and language – it is a perfect place for study.

Every year one of the highlights is the holy mass in St. Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday celebrated by the Pope. This year, on the 33rd World Youth Day, Pope Francis encouraged the young not to be silenced. He explained: »Dear young people, you have it in you to shout.  It is up to you to opt for Sunday’s “Hosanna!”, so as not to fall into Friday’s “Crucify him!”…  It is up to you not to keep quiet.  Even if others keep quiet, if we older people and leaders – so often corrupt – keep quiet, if the whole world keeps quiet and loses its joy, I ask you: Will you cry out? Please, make that choice /…/.«

Hopefully the young of the world will gather the strengh with Jesus to be able to unite themselves with God, thus joining light and darkness, joy and suffering in their everyday tasks. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/